Family Life

Our Christmas this year didn’t quite go to plan. My husband came down with full-blown flu on Christmas day and retreated to bed for a whole week. Our plans to visit family were totally scuppered. It really wasn’t the Christmas that we’d planned for Little I, and it was a bit of a disappointment all round. I even saw in the New Year on my own!

So when Andy finally made it out of bed on day eight, something in me broke and I found myself in floods of tears. I think it was simply the fact that it was the first time in over a week that he’d been well enough to give me a hug!

Little I was in her playroom. I’m usually very careful to not show such raw emotions to her. Andy asked if I wanted him to get her for me, but I said I didn’t want her to see me in such a mess. He ignored me, and must have whispered to her that I needed a cuddle. The next minute she’d thrown herself onto my lap and was giving me the biggest squeeze she could possibly manage. She stayed like that, not moving, for what seemed like ages. She didn’t release me until she sensed I was ok.

Once she saw that I was fine, she disappeared off into her playroom and was very quiet for a while. When she reappeared she was holding the most gorgeous bookmark that she’d decided to make for me, to cheer me up. On it she’d drawn very carefully a picture of herself dressed as a ballerina. She knows how much I love to read, and I was so touched that she’d come up with such a perfect gift idea for me. I will genuinely treasure it for life.

So this incident got me thinking…it is ok to let your children see you cry? I don’t mean all of the time, but occasionally, can it be a good thing?

In this instance I feel it was the right thing to happen. It showed Little I that I’m just as fallible as she is. While most of the time I try to be strong and a good role model for her, maybe it’s good for them to see that we don’t have all of the answers, and that sometimes we can’t hold all of it together. Surely as parents we also need to teach our children how to be open in their emotions.

In a small sort of way, I also think this incident encouraged Little I to step up and take on a bit of responsibility for her emotional Mummy!

What do you do? Do you let your children see you cry when you’re upset, or do you always shield them from your tears? I’m really interested to hear other parent’s thoughts.

Social media & online PR consultant and trainer, and ex-journalist. Founder and Director of Populate Digital and Mum of two. Living by the sea in Bournemouth. @wendymcauliffe.

http://barrebabe.com/ Sarah Porter

Awwww, what a sweetie she is! I adore the bookmark!
I’m with you. I try not to let Gwennie see me cry, but she recently did and was the most tender little doll, showering me with hugs and kisses. The genuine sincerity in her beautiful eyes just melted my heart. Our little girls are so special!

http://twitter.com/wendymcauliffe wendymcauliffe

I know completely what you mean Sarah regarding the sincerity. They are very special little girls indeed x

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About Mummy McAuliffe

I’m Wendy and I am mummy to my six-year-old girl, Little I, and two-year-old Wolfy (for privacy reasons I use pseudonyms). We live in Bournemouth very close to the beach, which is where I also grew up.

Writing is my passion, and my blog is my creative outlet, as well as the place where I share my thoughts and feelings on parenting. I hope that one day it will also be a sort of scrapbook of memories for my children. While I spend a lot of time writing in-depth content for other brands and businesses, I hope that one day I will hold in my hands a book that I have written and had published. Read more

About Mummy McAuliffe

I’m Wendy and I am mummy to my four-year-old girl, Little I, and baby Wolfy (for privacy reasons I use pseudonyms for the blog). We live in Bournemouth very close to the beach, which is where I also grew up. I run a small business from home with my husband Andy.

Writing is my passion, and my blog is my creative outlet, as well as the place where I share my thoughts and feelings on parenting. I hope that one day it will also be a sort of scrapbook of memories for my children. Read more